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Evo Morales: A “grand rebellion” against the exploiters has been born

TeleSUR, May 4

For [Bolivian president Evo] Morales, the consultation on autonomy in Santa Cruz was a failure given it was marked by violence. He congratulated the spontaneous mobilisations registered in various cities in the west of the country against the process.

The president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, assured this Sunday that in the department of Santa Cruz (east) a grand rebellion was born in the face of the intentions by the authorities of this region to approve the so-called autonomy statutes via an illegal consultation.

“Today, despite the threats, intimidations, humiliations, aggressions, a grand rebellion was born in the department of Santa Cruz against the groups that have always used the people in order to control the economic resources”, expressed the head of state.

“I want to express my greetings and great respect, my admiration to the people of Santa Cruz for this resistance against the separatist, divisionist autonomy statutes, resisting…in defence of the interests of the majorities of this department,” he added.

In a short speech televised across the country, the head of state lamented the violence that “divided” Santa Cruz and which according to official figures left one dead, 17 injured and at least 40 arrested.

“Unfortunately this consultation has divided the department of Santa Cruz.... unfortunately it has confronted the families that live in the department of Santa Cruz and this is the truth” he admitted.

Nevertheless, he recounted that in spontaneous mobilisations held in various cities in the Bolivian west, the citizens of the country came out onto the streets with a sentiment of “uniting the country”.

“Greetings to the Bolivian people for this grand sentiment expressed today, for the unity of the Bolivian family. These grand mobilisations in the departments of La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro, Potosi and other departments which expressed themselves in favour of the unity of the country. Concentrations that were clearly voluntary, clearly spontaneous, with the sentiment in favour of our beloved homeland”, he mentioned.

Media wants to hide high abstention

In regards to the first results from exit polls that some private media outlets have been transmitting, and which give a victory to the “Yes” vote, Morales disregarded these figures and explained that if the abstention, “No” votes and null votes are added up, it equals “practically” 50% of the result.

“The results shown by some media outlets are surely concerning for those who illegally wagered on this consultation. Between an abstention of 39%, and the rejections; the “No” vote and the null votes, this is practically 50%. These are figures from the mass media…” he commented.

“You can not fool the Bolivian people saying that here we have a winner with more than 80%, and if we want to compare the figures of abstention with previous years, it practically triples”, he added.

He reiterated the failure of the anti-constitutional Santa Cruz referendum, given that instead of bringing joy to the region it had caused violence.

“I also want to express that this day of so-called ‘celebrations’, this consultation over the autonomy statures has completely failed. This illegal and anti-constitutional consultation did not have success as some families, as some groups in the department of Santa Cruz had hoped for,” he said.

1 comment:

Evo Morales just spoke [6:00pm Mountain Standard Time]over radio and tv. The statement was broadcast by TELESUR -Caracas.

He made several points:

1. The government did not mobilize any organizations orinstitutions to stop the so-called referendum. He said,instead, that grassroots organizations took the initiativeto oppose the referendum. He thanked the people for doing so.

2. He said that the pro-government media has reported thatvotes against the autonomy and the absentee populationrepresented 50% of the people who could vote in Santa Cruz.He noted that if one were to look at the real figures, thepercentage of those opposed to autonomy would be larger.Abstained 37%, plus nulls and those not counted - about50%. Note: these are the figures provided by the anti-Evoforces.

3. He stressed that his government favors autonomy for theindigenous peoples and for the departments of Bolivia, butnot an autonomy that benefits the wealthy minority.

4. He called on the country's 9 "prefects"/governors(including 5 who favor "autonomy") to join him indiscussing an autonomy that will benefit the lower classes.

Prefects will have to answer within hours and reducetensions.

He did not refer to those who had been killed or injured inconfrontations.

He noted that the referendum was illegal but did notannounce any legal steps against those who had violated theconstitution and the rule of law.